Alumni

Cycle 36^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Hrelia

PhD project: Evaluation of new therapeutic strategies in cellular models of Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)

Cycle 36^th

Supervisor: Marco De Vivo 

Co-supervisor UniBo: Maria Laura Bolognesi

PhD Project: RNA targeting with small molecules. It will be focused on the design, and mainly synthesis of small molecules capable of selectively targeting RNA.

Cycle 36^th 

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Brigidi

 PhD Thesis: Profiling compositional and functional structures of the microbiome from faecal samples of COVID-19 patients by NGS approaches - ORCHESTRA EU H2020 project

Cycle 36^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Marinella Roberti

Co-supervisor: Dott.ssa Marcella Manerba

PhD project: “RAD51/BRCA2 disruption: identification of novel small molecule disruptors and molecular insights”

Cycle 36^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Romana Fato

PhD project: Study on bioenergetics impairments induced by inhibition of CoQ10 biosynthesis.

Cycle 36^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Barbara Luppi

PhD Project title: Innovative strategies to improve nasal drug delivery

Cycle 36^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Manuela Bartolini

PhD Project Title: Assessment of albumin dysfunction in diabetic patients with kidney disease by SPR.

Cycle 36^th

Supervisor: Prof.Stefano Iotti and Prof. Emil Malucelli

PhD Project title: "Bone biomineralization: a multimodal in/ex vivo study through Synchrotron-Based X-rays and NMR techniques"

Cycle 36^th

Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Cavalli

PhD Project: The study aims to validate in a pre-clinical setting a novel antipsychotic drug proposed as an innovative approach for the treatment of Bipolar Disease and Schizoaffective Disorder. Moreover, using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology for the DNA editing, the project investigates in a murine model the main side effects of the available antipsychotic drugs to identify suitable druggable targets.

Cycle 35^th

Supervisor: Roberto Tonelli

PhD Thesis: Pre-clinical evaluation of MYCN selective inhibitor efficacy in adult Small-cell lung cancer.

Cycle 35^th

Supervisor: Prof. Marco Caprini

PhD Thesis: Molecular and functional study of neuropathic pain at gastrointestinal level in a murine model of Fabry Disease

Cycle 35^th

Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Cavalli

PhD thesis: Design and synthesis of first-in-class multi-target triple protein kinase inhibitors with CNS application.

Cycle 35^th

Supervisor: Prof. Moreno Paolini

PhD Thesis: Toxicological effects related to the use of new ENDS in an in vivo model

Cycle 35^th

Supervisor: Prof. Pier Luigi Martelli

PhD Project: Knowing the interaction sites of a protein is a key aspect of functional annotation and biomedical research. Interactomics is the field of study that focuses on discovering them, however nowadays we require accurate and automated pipelines. Our main focus will be the generation of computational methods that can infer the probability that a lateral side chain is part of an interaction site, starting from the sequence of the protein. For this purpose, we will use deep-learning approaches, exploiting known correlated features of the amino acids like the Accessible Surface Area and the Secondary Structure.

Cycle 35^th

Supervisor: Prof. Anna Minarini

PhD thesis: design and synthesis of new small molecules for neuroinflammation treatment.

Cycle 35^th

Supervisor : Prof.ssa Natalia Calonghi

PhD Project "Identification of interactions between Chlamydia trachomatis and host cells"

Cycle 35^th

Supervisor: Marco De Vivo

PhD Project: Characterization of function and inhibition of DNA Polymerase-ŋ in cancer.

35^th Cycle

Supervisor : Andrea Cavalli

Project Title :  Innovative approaches to overcome drug-resistance in cancer

Cycle 35^th 

Supervisor: Maria Laura Bolognesi

PhD Thesis: New chemical modalities for leishmaniasis drug discovery

 Cycle 34^th 

Cycle 34^th

Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Cavalli

Co-Supervisor : Stefania Girotto

PhD Project: Biophysical approaches to characterize drug discovery related target

Assegnista di ricerca presso IIT - Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia

Cycle 34^th

Cycle 34^th

Supervisor: Maurizio Recanatini

PhD Project: Set up of a machine learning platform for applications in systems pharmacology

Master’s degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies (University of Padova, 2017). The PhD project is focused on building predictive models from multi-dimensional datasets using machine learning methods. The application field is systems pharmacology with the aim of translating data into therapeutic knowledge.

Cycle 34^th

Cycle 34^th

Supervisor: Prof. Pier Luigi Martelli

PhD Thesis: Machine Learning Tools for Protein Annotation: the cases of transmembrane β-barrel and myristoylated proteins

Cycle 34^th

Supervisors: Andrea Cavalli / Laura Mercolini

External supervisor: Andrea Armirotti

PhD Project: Development and validation of advanced bioanalytical strategies with high degree of miniaturisation and automation

The PhD project is focused on the development of original analytical strategies based on the coupling between innovative miniaturised approaches and advanced mass spectrometric methods. All the steps of the methodology are fully validated as required by international guidelines.

Cycle 34^th

PhD Project : Targeting Polymerase-Eta as anti-cancer therapy

Supervisor: Marco De Vivo

The research project, funded by Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, is focused on the design and synthesis of new chemical entities to block Polymerase-Eta activity, which is a promising drug discovery target to treat cancer.

Cycle 34^th

Supervisor: Santi Mario Spampinato.

PhD Project: The role of Eph/ephrin system in glioblastoma and apoptosis

Cycle 34^th

Supervisor: Prof. Stefano Iotti

PhD Thesis: Study of bone biomineralization in 2D and 3D cultures of a human osteosarcoma cell line as osteoblast-like model

Cycle 34^th

Supervisor: Giorgio Gallinella

PhD Project: Reverse Genetics approaches for the study of Parvovirus B19

The PhD project is focused on the production and analysis of modified genomic clones of Parvovirus B19 to study the viral NS protein, an interesting target for antiviral drugs.

Bachelor Degree in Biotechnology at the University of Parma in 2015, then Master Degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the University of Bologna in 2018.

Cycle 34^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Romualdi

PhD Project: " Involvement of BDNF pathway and epigenetic modifications in the effects induced by MDMA (ecstasy): neuropsychiatric correlates"

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Cavalli

Co-supervisor: Prof.ssa Marinella Roberti

PhD Thesis: Design and synthesis of BRCA2-RAD51 disruptors to induce synthetic lethality in cancer treatment

Cycle 33^rd

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Michela Rosini.

PhD Project: Design and synthesis of small molecules to study-amyloid-mediated pathogenetic network in Alzheimer disease.

Graduated in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at University of Bologna with 110 cum laude with a thesis based on the synthesis on novel multitarget drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer disease. He spent a research period at King’s College London in  Prof. Gee’s group working on the development of a new PET radiotracer labelled with 18F before starting his PhD in November 2017. His interests focus on synthesis of pharmacologic tools to investigate the mechanistic connection between the process of protein aggregation and neuroinflammation that characterizes Alzheimer disease.

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor:  Prof.ssa Silvia Gobbi

PhD Project: Design and synthesis of dual aromatase inhibitors and SERMs as potential agents targeting breast cancer. Starting from the structures of tamoxifen and of a molecule (present in literature) that is a good inhibitor of aromatase and has good affinity for ERs (Estrogen receptors), we are designing and synthesizing different series of molecules which present structural changes. The aim of this project is identifying new dual agents.

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Brigidi

PhD Project: Gut microbiota dynamics during the treatment with anticancer immunotherapy

Graduated cum laude in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the University of Bologna; experimental thesis “Immunomodulatory and DNA damaging properties of the Salmonella typhoid toxin in in vivo and in vitro infection models” carried out at the Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm). The PhD research project is mainly focused on the study of the gut microbiota trajectory during the treatment with anticancer therapy in patients affected by different types of cancer (e.g. ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, leukemia).

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Hrelia

PhD Project: Identification of new preventive and therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Degree in Pharmacy with laude. Her PhD research project is focused on the study of Alzheimer's disease and on new therapeutic strategies against this pathology. In particular, she investigates the role of compounds against neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease models.

Cycle 33^rd

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor: Ferruccio Poli

PhD Project: Metabolomic approach to plant-based drug discovery

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Romana Fato

PhD thesis: In vitro study of metabolic modifications induced by CoQ10 depletion

Graduated in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies in 2017 at the University of Bologna. Her PhD research project mainly focuses on CoQ10 (ubiquinone) function in cell metabolism. She investigates some steps of CoQ10 biosynthesis, trying to understand the molecular and pathological bases underlying the complex scenario behind primary CoQ10 deficiency.

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor: Prof. Marinella Roberti

External supervisor: Dr. Fabio Rancati (Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.)

PhD Thesis: Design and synthesis of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.

Cycle 33^rd

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Romualdi

PhD Thesis: "Role of epigenetic mechanisms and 26 S Proteasome in the development and management of Chronic Pa

Cycle 33^_rd

Supervisor: Prof. Pier Luigi Martelli/Prof.ssa Patrizia Brigidi

PhD Project: "Computational analysis of mechanisms responsible for antibiotic resistance and xenobiotics metabolism in bacteria"

Cycle 33^rd 

Supervisor: Marco De Vivo

PhD Project: Multiscale Simulations to Investigate Nanoparticle Internalization and Transport across the Cellular Membrane

Cycle 33^rd  

Cycle 37^th

Supervisor- Prof.ssa Marinella Roberti

Co-supervisor- Dr.ssa Carla Ferreri

PhD-project: “Fatty acid containing lipids and Membrane Lipid Therapy in Regenerative Medicine”

The industrial Apprenticeship Phd project, in collaboration with SILFRADENT S.r.l, is focused on the characterization of PRP (platelet rich plasma) and CGF (concentrated growth factors), evaluating the lipid signalling molecules which play a significant role in cell therapy for regenerative medicine. Including both test in vitro and in vivo, this study enables also the development of nutraceutical formulations and nutritional aspects aimed at tissue regeneration.

Cycle 37^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Monica Forni

Co-supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Brigidi

PhD Thesis: Effects of medication assumption on the maternal milk microbiota and the newborn gut microbiota of Minipigs

Project Description: The aim of this project is to search for a non-clinical method to study the effect of medication on the maternal milk microbiota and the possible related effect on the infant gut microbiota (GM) composition. In order to do so, Gottingen Minipigs will be used as animal model: the effect of medication will be tested in vitro, by studying mammary epithelial permeability, and in vivo, by analysing maternal milk microbiota and piglets GM composition.

Cycle 37^th cycle

Project Description: The PhD project aims to investigate the BRCA2-RAD51 interaction involved in the DNA repair through Homologous Recombination for the discovery of new suitable drug for pancreatic cancer. These studies will be performed thanks to the development of tumor  organoids and 3D cultures. Finally, this project can lead us to a better comprehension of the HR mechanism and thus of the development of new therapies.

37^th cycle

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Brigidi

PhD Thesis: Understanding the compositional and functional changes occurring in the human gut microbiome for the development of personalized therapeutic approaches.

Project description: The PhD project is focused on understanding how any change to the phylogenic structure of gut resident commensal communities can affect therapy or pathology progression through direct mechanisms, as drugs biotransformation, and indirect mechanisms, as the modulation of host metabolic and immunological functions. Thanks to this it will be possible develop new personalized integrated intervention strategies for the patients.

Cycle 37^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Patrizia Hrelia

PhD Title: Emerging contaminants and health: from the study of the effects of endocrine disruptors on human and environmental health to the development of strategies for their characterization.

Project Description: Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technologies at University of Bologna with laude. Her PhD project aim to investigate the impact of endocrine disruptors (ED) on human and environmental health, focusing on ED present in drugs and products for personal care and hygiene. In particular, she is interested in the mechanisms of toxicity, especially neurotoxicity, of ED at a cellular level to understand which pathways are dysregulated and to predict prevention measures to reduce diseases associated with exposure to EDs and favor their removal from the environment. 

Cycle 37^th

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Marinella Roberti

Co-supervisor: Prof. Giovanni Bottegoni and Prof.ssa Maria Laura Bolognesi

PhD title: Green synthesis of biologically active compounds with the support of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Project Description: The aim of this PhD project is to computationally de novo design new, green GSK-3  inhibitors for  Alzheimer’s disease treatment using deep learning SMILES-based generative architectures. Neural networks will be trained on non persistent, non bio-accumulative, non toxic substances. Valid generated molecules retaining a green profile will be evaluated with the goal of identifying a green synthetic route for each selected compound. In the last step of this project, our candidates will be eventually synthesized and tested.

Cycle 37^th

Supervisor: Giorgio Gallinella   

PhD Thesis:  “Investigation about the expression of cellular elements that are involved during the B19V infection”  

Project Description: The PhD project is focused on the investigation on virus-cell interactions during the B19V infection, mainly in order to understand the basis of viral tropism and pathogenesis. This investigation could help in developing efficient antiviral strategies that interfere with the early steps of the infection. The main determinant of B19V tropism and cell susceptibility is the presence of cellular receptors. In particular, a VP1u binding coreceptor is a molecule involved in B19V attachment and penetration. The distribution of viral coreceptor defines the set of susceptible cells, but the effective productivity of viral replication is critically linked to the intracellular environment. 

Therefore, my project will be focused on: 

1. identifying the VP1u coreceptor by immunoprecipitation and to characterize it using analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry;  
2. characterizing the intracellular environment and cell permissiveness factors mainly in Erythroid Progenitor Cells (EPCs). 

Cycle 37^th 

Supervisor: Andrea Cavalli 

Co-Supervisor: Marinella Roberti  

PhD Thesis: Design and synthesis of Rad51-BRCA disruptors to inhibit homologous recombination and achieve synthetic lethality in cancer cells 

Project Description: My PhD project aims to synthetize and optimize analogs of a quinoline-based Rad51-BRCA disruptor identified as a promising hit compound through a virtual screening campaign. Using a hit to lead strategy, I will carry out SAR studies around the most promising derivatives able to disrupt RAD51-BRCA interaction and trigger synthetic lethality in cancer cells, in combination with PARP inhibitors. The objective is to widen the use of PARPi in BRCA-competent and Olaparib resistant cancer. An innovative aspect of this project will be the use of an interactive in silico platform, supported by artificial intelligence, for the retrosynthetic study of the final products.